Reform UK leader offers profound apologies for errors but insists they were not deliberate
Nigel Farage missed the deadline 17 times (Image: Getty)
Nigel Farage has been found guilty of breaching MP rules 17 times by failing to declare £380,000 of income within the required deadline. The Reform UK chief has been given a stern telling off by parliamentary authorities, but will not be referred to a panel that could impose sanctions against him.
The Clacton MP was reported to the Commons standards chief by a member of the public over allegations that he had failed to comply with rules requiring MPs to declare fresh financial interests within 28 days. However, Daniel Greenberg, Parliament’s sleazebuster-in-chief, said he had concluded the errors were “inadvertent” due to staffing and administrative issues. He also let Mr Farage off because of his “acceptance of responsibility … and the clear undertaking you gave me that future interests will be registered in time”.
In a transcript of an interview between Mr Farage and Mr Greenberg, the politician is seen apologising profusely for the error, asking: “After all, what would I have to gain by declaring things late? What possible motive would I have to declare things late?
“I would argue none whatsoever. So please accept my apologies, I will make sure it does not happen again.”
Of the 17 late declarations, six were from GB News, including five months’ worth of salary.
Three were from a consulting firm, Imperial Independent Media, of which one was declared 120 days late.
Another was for Cameo, the video messaging service where fans can pay to receive a personalised message from the Reform UK chief.
In total, the 17 late declarations amounted to about £380,000 of income.
